Heroic stranger’s quick thinking saves woman from frightening men: ‘A miracle happened’
A woman was being followed by a group of street harassers — then she says a miracle happened.
The woman from France shared her story on Reddit’s “Let’s Not Meet” forum. She explained that since she is small she avoids confrontation for her own safety. One night, she left her friend’s house and decided to take the 40-minute walk home. Then things took a terrifying turn.
“Less than five minutes passed and I just felt it was going to be hell. I was approaching one of the many bridges in our city. I didn’t see anyone around,” she wrote. “The bridge was about 20 meters in front of me before I heard a conversation and a giggle. I turned my head slightly and saw three men walking towards me. I felt a cold sweat on my back but it was too late to turn back. I didn’t want to show them that I was afraid. I know this type of behavior provokes more harassment. I kept walking but turned the music down. I didn’t take my headphones off because I didn’t want them to know about my suspicions.”
She could hear the men’s footsteps behind her, but she couldn’t understand what the language they spoke. Then suddenly the men surrounded her.
“I had no choice but to go ahead,” she said. “A shudder ran through my body. I didn’t know what they wanted or what they were saying, but I felt that I was in danger. They kept talking to me. They leaned over me and whispered something into my ears. And they laughed. This sound will haunt me for the rest of my life. At one point they noticed I was doing my best to ignore them. And then the worst began. They started making animal noises. It may sound strange and maybe even funny, but it was terrifying to me. They howled, growled, whistled and kissed the air loudly. They did these things very close to my face.”
The woman made it to the end of the bridge. Terrified, she felt sick to her stomach and on the verge of tears.
“And then a miracle happened. Someone called my name. Very loud. I looked up and saw someone approaching us. He was a very tall man, several years older than me. But I didn’t know him,” she wrote. “‘What are you doing to my girlfriend?’ he asked, still frowning at them. He stretched out his hand in my direction, never taking his eyes off them. ‘Come on, sweetheart.’ I did not wait. I didn’t know who he was, why he was helping me, but I didn’t care. I gripped his hand tightly and almost nestled against his shoulder. My heart was beating fast and loud, but I was so thankful that he came to help me.”
The men and the stranger exchanged glances. But the harassers retreated back to the bridge.
“I started shaking uncontrollably and I almost drowned in my own tears. He didn’t say a word, he just held my hand and gave me time to cool down. After a long moment, he offered to take me home,” she said. “I found out he was walking near the bridge and noticed the whole scene. He decided to react and help me if it turned out that his assumptions were correct. I asked him how he knew me and how he knew my name. He looked surprised then smiled and said he didn’t know my name. He used this name because it is one of the most popular in our country. When we got home, I was still shaky but happy.”
She thanked the stranger for saving her, then said goodbye. But she ended her story with a message to the men who gleefully hurt her.
“I hope one day you will understand that your behavior is reprehensible and you will change your attitude to women who walk alone,” she stated. “And I hope to never meet you again.”
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